FAQ & Contact

We look for students who are active and dedicated learners, intellectually curious, and will thrive in a community that celebrates multiple perspectives and varied interests. LWHS students have a well-deserved reputation for being very friendly, altruistic, compassionate, and willing to try new things.

Each year, LWHS seeks to enroll approximately 140 students to the 9th grade. Total school enrollment is 560 students.

The LWHS Application will be available on Ravenna-Hub beginning August 27. The first step in our process is to fill out an inquiry form. For a step-by-step tutorial, click here.

We have waiver codes available for families for whom the application fee provides a hardship. Please click here to fill out the LWHS Fee Waiver form.

There is no additional advantage to submitting your application early.

The Admissions Committee takes a holistic approach to each application, carefully reviewing all components, including personal essays, academic transcripts, teacher recommendations, the Cub Convo, and each applicant’s connection to the LWHS mission and educational philosophy. The Committee is also responsible for shaping a 9th grade class that reflects a broad spectrum of diversity. This may include, but is not limited to, gender, socioeconomic status, race, ethnicity, geography, and co-curricular interests.

Lick-Wilmerding High School is committed to fostering and sustaining a vibrant and inclusive learning community. The school does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, ancestry, national or ethnic origin, citizenship status, religion, age, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, or disability. LWHS adheres to all applicable non-discrimination laws in the administration of its educational policies, admissions process, flexible tuition program, and all school-sponsored programs and activities.

The Admissions Committee consists of faculty, school administrators, and members of the Admissions team who read, discuss, and consider the viability of all prospective students.

Interviews or Cub Conversations, are required for every student who has submitted an application to LWHS. In a Cub Convo, two prospective students will have an informal conversation with one faculty or staff member.
In this conversation students have the opportunity to share about themselves, their passions, educational goals, interests, and the type of high school experience they seek for the next four years.

No, LWHS has adopted a test-free policy for our application.

Admission to LWHS is very competitive. For the last five years, we have received 850-1000 applications for approximately 140 spots in the incoming 9th grade class.

We deeply value the sense of connection and continuity that sibling and legacy applicants bring to the LWHS community. While these relationships are meaningful to us, admission cannot be guaranteed based on family associations alone. Sibling and legacy applicants are expected to demonstrate the academic ability, leadership potential, and interpersonal qualities that will help them thrive at LWHS.

Participation in our Campus Visit and Open House programs are optional.

The campus shadow visit gives students a chance to experience a typical LWHS school day. Eighth graders visit two classes and go on a campus tour with an LWHS Tour Guide.

Open House events invite parents/guardians and students to learn more about the LWHS curriculum, educational philosophy, and mission. Campus tours and academic presentations are given, and attendees have the opportunity to speak with faculty, current students and parents/guardians.

Please note that the campus visit program and Open House events are for 8th grade students and their parents/guardians only.

At LWHS, we acknowledge and celebrate the uniqueness of all Bay Area families. We value the multiple perspectives, talents, and treasures that our students and families contribute to the fabric of the school community. We define diversity through the lens of gender, ethnicity, race, socioeconomic circumstances, and geography, as well as life experiences, interests, and values.

Community, Equity, Inclusion & Belonging at LWHS

LWHS is accepting applications for rising 10th and 11th graders. Acceptance is dependent on attrition of the student body. Due to the Technical Arts curriculum and graduation requirements, we are not able to enroll students into the 12th grade.

Please email admissions@lwhs.org for more information about the transfer process.

Full tuition for the 2025–2026 school year is $62,250. In addition, new families are asked to pay a one-time $1,000 facilities fee.

Through the Flexible Tuition program, a family’s tuition contribution may range from $1,000 to $50,000, depending on demonstrated need. Learn more about Flexible Tuition here.

Tuition, regardless of amount, covers a wide range of essentials, including books, course materials, daily lunch, yearbook, athletic uniforms, co-curricular activities, and grade-level retreats.

At LWHS, roughly 33% of families are enrolled through our Flexible Tuition Program. This program enables families to pay a tuition amount that meets their need given their current financial circumstances. Families who are interested in Flexible Tuition should visit our Applying page and attend our Flexible Tuition Workshop (sign-up on Ravenna-Hub). The LWHS Admissions Office will email additional information about the application process to all interested families in December. With any questions, please contact admissions@lwhs.org.

Lick-Wilmerding High School stands apart through its unique mission as a private school with a public purpose. Rooted in values of equity, innovation, and community, LWHS combines rigorous academics with a deep commitment to ethical leadership, social responsibility, and hands-on learning.

Students don’t just take challenging courses, they also engage in the Technical Arts, explore real-world issues through our Public Purpose Program, and grow in a diverse and inclusive community that reflects great San Francisco Bay Area. With a strong emphasis on collaboration, critical thinking, and compassion, LWHS prepares students not only for college, but for lives of purpose and impact.

In keeping with our commitment to inclusivity, LWHS provides $7.8 million in Flexible Tuition grants each year, helping ensure that students from all walks of life have access to the full LWHS experience.

Admissions decisions will be mailed on March 19, 2025 and available electronically on Ravenna-Hub on March 20, 2025. 

If a student has been placed in the waiting pool, they have the opportunity to remain or forfeit their spot. If a student chooses to remain in the waiting pool, they will be notified in late March or early April if a space becomes available.

Typically at LWHS, we do not take many students from the waiting pool, so we encourage waitpool students to consider other options, and to notify us if their wish is to remain in the waiting pool through the summer months.

While LWHS does not provide any school sponsored transportation, there are numerous ways to get to our school including the bus, streetcar, and BART: Balboa Park BART Station, MUNI buses: 8X, 8BX, 29, 43, 49, and 54 and streetcars: J, KT, and M. All stop within a block of the school on Ocean or Geneva Avenues. Additionally, many families create carpools with families who live nearby.

Please click here to view the LWHS Academic Scheduling 4-Year Planning Sheet.

Yes, there are many students at LWHS receiving accommodations. Please contact Director of Learning Strategies Winifred Montgomery to discuss specific questions or concerns regarding your student’s circumstances. Or visit the Learning Strategies Center webpage.

Learning Strategies Center    Accessing Accommodations

We receive applications from schools all over the Bay Area, as far north as Sonoma and as far south as Los Altos.

For questions about colleges and the college counseling program at LWHS, visit the College Counseling webpage or check out our school profile to see where LWHS students go to college.

College Counseling     LWHS School Profile